Good start to the day - Autocar

[berry100]

Well, took the time out this morning to quickly skim over the Autocar RS4 v M3 test..............

And it's now confirmed, the RS4 IS JUST BETTER, even though it's nearly 2 years old!!!!

Makes a refreshing change from all those beatings it's taken in the past from the M3........and just confirms that I made the right decision in my recent purchase (Bout time I made a good decision on choice of car)......

No disrespect to the M3 though as I loved the old one but BMW have missed a trick big time with this one......and wll be relying on a £15k more CSL to take the game to the RS4......

Congrats to all................

[audijohn]

I have a feeling the RS4, will be "THE" car to own secondhand, audi have broken the mold with it.
The A/S5 does NOT handle as well, not a good sign for the new A4/A6 format.
I drove the RS4 last year (demo) and the one I drove did not inspire me, however after taking a new one out for a day convinced me it's a real stormer.

[sykotoy]

i see you said skimmed, can someone scan/ or read or post marks/10 or whatever/.......hurry...im getting hard

[DavidT]

I have a feeling the RS4, will be "THE" car to own secondhand, audi have broken the mold with it.
The A/S5 does NOT handle as well, not a good sign for the new A4/A6 format.
I drove the RS4 last year (demo) and the one I drove did not inspire me, however after taking a new one out for a day convinced me it's a real stormer.

The develepment that has gone into the B8 platform will produce the best handling A4/S4/RS4 & 5 variants when they are ready, no question.

[marin]

haha! you guys love the review. Yes is a good review but it doesnt make sense logically. I think you forget that they wrote previously that the e46 M3 CS was better than the RS4... Have BMW gone a step back with the E92 M3? I think not. Another dodgy review. Dont you think so?

[DavidT]

Very true, I think the E46 M3 CS beat the B7 RS4 in EVO Magazine a while back too

[W8PMC]

Also on 5th gear, they pitched an E46 CS up against an RS4 Saloon at Castle Combe i think. The bottom line was as you'd expect, the RS4 was quicker, handled better & stopped better, however the CS drifted better & round a dry track the CS was closing ever so slightly towards the end of the lap, but that's after the RS4 gained a big lead from the start.

IIRC the conclusion then was that for an all round performance car, the RS4 was the winner, but for giggles & a tad more fun on track, the CS would win.

Pretty much what the press are saying about the new M3 vs the RS4.

[Dom81]

So same comments, and same verdict - I wouldn't call that much of a move forward

I remember Clarkson said the new M3 would need to come with a free moon to beat the RS4 - looks like it didn't happen...

[mip]

This is making me smile...

I just made the descision to swap my E46 M3 SMG (5 years old) for an RS4.

I pick up my RS4 on Friday

To be honest for the average person who doesn't do track days, doesn't drive at 10/10ths the whole time, tail out drifting etc.. etc.. they are both great cars.

I think the interior of the RS is significantly better than the M3's but performance and handling are very close (based on a test drive only so far) under normal driving conditions.

I chose not to go for another BMW because I just don't like the new flame surface styling. I really don't like the new shape coupe it just doesn't work for me.

While I was looking for a replacement I tried. (need 4 seats)

RS4 - loved it
S5 - very pleasant - lots of toys - just not special
M3 CS - great car, not different enough to my M and not as nice inside as the Rs
VXR8 - great engine nasty auto box wind noise low quality build
335I new shape coupe - hate the look, don't like the interior, not special

Of course the proof is in the eating so maybe I will change my mind once I have owned the RS4 for a while

Cheers

MIP

[alex_123_fra]

Also on 5th gear, they pitched an E46 CS up against an RS4 Saloon at Castle Combe i think. The bottom line was as you'd expect, the RS4 was quicker, handled better & stopped better, however the CS drifted better & round a dry track the CS was closing ever so slightly towards the end of the lap, but that's after the RS4 gained a big lead from the start.

IIRC the conclusion then was that for an all round performance car, the RS4 was the winner, but for giggles & a tad more fun on track, the CS would win.

Pretty much what the press are saying about the new M3 vs the RS4.

Yep, quite right. The RS4 was miles ahead in performance compared to the M3 CS and faster around the tight track they used (which wouldn't have favoured the RS4). It will always naturally understeer a little as that is how audi set it up for safety. The geometry can easily be adjusted to produced less understeer and change the dynamics of the car for track work.

Also, on top gear...the unofficial RS4 lap time was mid 1 min 25s which was faster than a cayman S. In fact, very close to the Evo VIII FQ400 time which weighs around 250 kg less than an RS4. The E46 M3 time was 1 min 31.8s if I remember corectly.

[audijohn]

This is making me smile...

I just made the descision to swap my E46 M3 SMG (5 years old) for an RS4.

I pick up my RS4 on Friday

To be honest for the average person who doesn't do track days, doesn't drive at 10/10ths the whole time, tail out drifting etc.. etc.. they are both great cars.

I think the interior of the RS is significantly better than the M3's but performance and handling are very close (based on a test drive only so far) under normal driving conditions.

I chose not to go for another BMW because I just don't like the new flame surface styling. I really don't like the new shape coupe it just doesn't work for me.

While I was looking for a replacement I tried. (need 4 seats)

RS4 - loved it
S5 - very pleasant - lots of toys - just not special
M3 CS - great car, not different enough to my M and not as nice inside as the Rs
VXR8 - great engine nasty auto box wind noise low quality build
335I new shape coupe - hate the look, don't like the interior, not special

Of course the proof is in the eating so maybe I will change my mind once I have owned the RS4 for a while

Cheers

MIP

Just my 2P, if you give the RS4 engine a good warm-up before to try to break it, you will find it much improved over the M3, I would give it a 1000 Miles before pushing on but thats me (kind old fart).

[mrdeli]

Yep we have good cars guys

[sykotoy]

sweetness..... im so excited , it feels like Australia just scored at the world cup again, im giddy lol

[mac4RS]

One things for sure, the BM dealers won't be getting any copies of Autocar with the 'RS4 beats new M3' for their customers to read. I feel sorry for BM sales guys (if you are reading this, be quick and jump ship before things get any worse - it will - you know your sales are suffering, there is only so many 320d's you can sell in black, soon to become known as the new Cortina...

I know things come down to personal taste (this is not a slagging of the M3), but I know what wheel I would rather be sitting behind.

The inside of the new M3 looks rather similiar to say, a 120d. Just looks a bit ordinary and boring. The steering wheel looks naff, the gear knob looks like it came out of a 80's spares parts bin. Generally the rest of the car inside looks quite drab. Would you pay 50K ++ (you would have to have the 19'' wheels etc etc) to sit behind that - no thanks.

On the outside it looks well, ok, but looks a bit troubled in some areas. It's all a bit quite Bangle - ish (or should he have been called Bungled..?

You could always wait for the 'very soon' CSL, but be prepared to take a £20K hit when you drive away from the showroom... remember the last one.

Anyway, this may get a little reponse from some quarters, but I just know that I have never owned a car (B7 RS4 Avant in Spint Blue) which people keep pointing at with so much admiration (mind you it could be the good looking driver!!?). The car is sooo perfect & rounded - BMW must be so jealous.

[mac4RS]

One things for sure, the BM dealers won't be getting any copies of Autocar with the 'RS4 beats new M3' for their customers to read. I feel sorry for BM sales guys (if you are reading this, be quick and jump ship before things get any worse - it will - you know your sales are suffering, there is only so many 320d's you can sell in black, soon to become known as the new Cortina...

I know things come down to personal taste (this is not a slagging of the M3), but I know what wheel I would rather be sitting behind.

The inside of the new M3 looks rather similiar to say, a 120d. Just looks a bit ordinary and boring. The steering wheel looks naff, the gear knob looks like it came out of a 80's spares parts bin. Generally the rest of the car inside looks quite drab. Would you pay 50K ++ (you would have to have the 19'' wheels etc etc) to sit behind that - no thanks.

On the outside it looks well, ok, but looks a bit troubled in some areas. It's all a bit quite Bangle - ish (or should he have been called Bungled..?

You could always wait for the 'very soon' CSL, but be prepared to take a £20K hit when you drive away from the showroom... remember the last one.

Anyway, this may get a little reponse from some quarters, but I just know that I have never owned a car (B7 RS4 Avant in Spint Blue) which people keep pointing at with so much admiration (mind you it could be the good looking driver!!?). The car is sooo perfect & rounded - BMW must be so jealous.